Classic Chocolate Chip Cookies

Crisp edges, chewy centers and pools of chocolate: a dependable recipe with brown sugar for depth and a short chill for the best texture.

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Prep15 min
Cook11 min
Total26 min
YieldMakes 24 cookies
LevelBeginner

Ingredients

US measurements with metric in parentheses.

Instructions

  1. Whisk flour, baking soda and salt together.
  2. Beat butter and both sugars until fluffy, about 3 minutes. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then the vanilla.
  3. Stir in the flour mixture just until combined. Fold in the chocolate chips.
  4. Chill the dough 30 minutes.
  5. Heat the oven to 375°F (190°C). Scoop heaping tablespoons onto lined baking sheets, 2 inches (5 cm) apart.
  6. Bake 9 to 11 minutes until the edges are golden and the centers look set. Cool on the pan 5 minutes.

Tips for success

  • Measure flour by spooning it into the cup and leveling, or weigh it.
  • Underbaking slightly gives a chewier cookie.

Substitutions

  • Use chopped chocolate bars for more melty pools.
  • Add 1 cup chopped walnuts.

Storage & reheating

Store airtight up to 5 days. Freeze balls of dough for 3 months and bake from frozen, adding 1 to 2 minutes.

Estimated nutrition per serving

Estimate only. Calculated roughly from typical ingredients; real values vary by brand and portion.

Calories~210 kcal
Protein~2 g
Carbohydrates~28 g
Fat~11 g

Frequently asked questions

Why did my cookies spread?

Butter that was too soft or a warm pan; chill the dough and cool the pans between batches.